An Autobiography: Volume I

by Agatha Christie

PLEASE This is the record of Agatha Christie speaking about her authorial journey. It is not the full text of her autobiography, but it will encourage you to find said text.

Publisher's Summary
Back in print in an all-new edition is the engaging and illuminating chronicle of the life of the "Queen of Mystery". Fans of Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple and readers of John Curran’s fascinating biographies Agatha Christie’s Secret Notebooks and Murder in the Making will be spellbound by the compelling, authoritative account of one of the world’s most influential and fascinating novelists, told in her own words and inimitable style - and here in her own voice. These audio excerpts were dictated by Agatha Christie herself.

The New York Times Book Review called Christie’s autobiography a "joyful adventure," saying, "she brings the sense of wonder... to her extraordinary career."

Please This is a historical recording, and the audio quality is reflective of the time in which it was recorded.

1977 Agatha Christie Limited (P)2010 Agatha Christie Archive Trust

Genres: Autobiography, Nonfiction, Memoir, Biography, History

272 pages, Hardcover

First published September 30, 2004

About the author

Agatha Christie also wrote romance novels under the pseudonym Mary Westmacott, and was occasionally published under the name Agatha Christie Mallowan.

Dame Agatha Mary Clarissa Christie, Lady Mallowan, DBE (née Miller) was an English writer known for her 66 detective novels and 14 short story collections, particularly those revolving around fictional detectives Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple. She also wrote the world's longest-running play, the murder mystery The Mousetrap, which has been performed in the West End of London since 1952. A writer during the "Golden Age of Detective Fiction", Christie has been called the "Queen of Crime". She also wrote six novels under the pseudonym Mary Westmacott. In 1971, she was made a Dame (DBE) by Queen Elizabeth II for her contributions to literature. Guinness World Records lists Christie as the best-selling fiction writer of all time, her novels having sold more than two billion copies.

This best-selling author of all time wrote 66 crime novels and story collections, fourteen plays, and six novels under a pseudonym in romance. Her books sold more than a billion copies in the English language and a billion in translation. According to Index Translationum, people translated her works into 103 languages at least, the most for an individual author. Of the most enduring figures in crime literature, she created Hercule Poirot and Miss Jane Marple. She atuhored The Mousetrap, the longest-running play in the history of modern theater.

Associated Names:
Agata Christie
Agata Kristi
Агата Кристи (Russian)
Агата Крісті (Ukrainian)
Αγκάθα Κρίστι (Greek)
アガサ クリスティ (Japanese)
阿嘉莎·克莉絲蒂 (Chinese)

Reviews

[Jennifer Lafferty · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was great hearing her narrate even though the audio quality wasn't the best. She offered some intriguing insights on her craft and life itself. A treat for the many Agatha Christie fans around the world.

[Montserrat Esteban · Rating 1 out of 5]

Libro abandonado, lenguaje excesivamente simple y poco interesante

[Ebookwormy1 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a recording of Agatha Christie talking through her publishing career, so it's only available as an audio file. I got it from Audible. It would be a lovely complement to a project of reading her work in the order published.

It's fascinating to hear her voice and her recollection of certain challenges with each novel, tidbits about what she liked and didn't like, and growth she noticed in herself as she gained confidence as a writer.

[Crystal Swafford · Rating 2 out of 5]

The other reviews are spot on. It’s fantastic to hear intimate details of Agatha Christie writing process in her own words. The audio quality is poor; there’s constant static, there’s irritating nuisance noise, and her voice is difficult to discern. There is a lot of discussion about The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, my least favorite book of hers. It really is not like a book—it’s a disorganized interview.

[Erin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Listened on Audible.quality was not that great but that is to be expected. Plan to read the actual book.

[Lynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating as her voice is crystal throughout. What is absorbing is that there was far more to the 'Queen of Crime' than Poirot and Miss Marple. Absorbing life throughout.

[Theresa Stone · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this so much! Listening to Agatha tell her story is amazing. It didn't even bother me that the audio had a lot of background noise and distortion. It only added to it's charm.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved hearing her voice. Bear in mind the age of the recording for sound quality and political correctness.

[Terry Vega · Rating 2 out of 5]

I guess I didn’t know what to expect when I started reading/listening to this. She was all over the place with her stories and the recording was horrible and her accent didn’t help.

[Preston Young · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hearing this in her own voice was amazing. The audio quality was not great (expected, being that it’s rather old). I wish there was a way to clean it up a bit to make it more understandable

[Mary Etta · Rating 4 out of 5]

My used copy did not include the audio.

I didn’t enjoy the first half so much but the last half yes. She lived a very privileged life seemingly oblivious of those less privileged.

I loved the thought of her riding a surf board those many years ago.

On coming to the end of Agatha Christie's memoir—
Her second husband,Max, of many years was an archaeologist. She often went with him on digs. At first taking the Orient Express.

This keeper—

"...I do take an enormous interest in the personal aspects of what archaeology reveals. I like to find a little dog buried under the threshold, inscribed on which are the words: 'Don't stop to think, Bite him!' Such a good motto for a guard-dog; you can see it being written on the clay, and someone laughing."

Happy to say I am one of those "someones".

[Camilla Cruz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Regarding the Audible audio version:
It was difficult to listen to while trying to accomplish housework, due to the old recording, but it was forgivable as I could not imagine hearing this autobiography in anyone else's voice. What a fascinating, encouraging, interesting, and down-to-earth account. I enjoyed it immensely, and felt like I was sitting down in a conference or to tea listening to Agatha Christie share her life, experience, and journey to creating. I think I would have deeply enjoyed knowing her personally.

[Ur mum]

Overall, I think this was a decent book, but I wouldn't recommend it. It had some insightful details, but her life story didn't interest me as i thought it would, and the language might be a little above some peoples reading level.

[Shawn Bird]

A crackly old recording that reveals Christie's writing process, characters, and life. Interesting to note how very little is different from how me and my writer friends would describe our own experience.

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had high hopes for this. However it was hard to listen to. It is essentially Mrs. Christie describing a broad chronology of her publication of each book. Not particularly engaging.

[Champ T. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well written, but more than i ever wanted to know about her.

[Shawna Alpdemir · Rating 2 out of 5]

The recording quality is completely distracting, although it is charming to hear Christie's voice as she describes her stories and characters, writing processes and adventures, as a writer.

[Anne-Marie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Listened to on Audible: I’m glad this was only 1 hr and 19 min.

[Idayah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was very interesting to listen to-- hard, considering the age of the audio book, but interesting all the same.